X420X

Saturday, February 13th, 2010 | 6 - 8:30PM (one night only)

CHICAGO: Damian Abraham, perhaps better known as Pink Eyes, frontman of Toronto-based punk band Fucked Up, is an accomplished illustrator whose work constructs a visual language based on highly detailed and grotesque characters. X420X is Abraham’s first solo exhibition, and is comprised of two serial projects and a site-specific wall drawing. A to Z is a set of monstrous characters contorted to form a full set of the alphabet, confronting the viewer upon entrance. Abraham started this current series eight years ago, and has since developed a body of meticulously cut forms that are at once precise and boldly perverse.

Taking cues from artist/musicians pushead and Brian Walsby, Abraham’s work demonstrates the inseparability of music and illustration often found in hardcore punk aesthetics. Abraham additionally looks to the apocalyptic paintings of artist Joe Coleman, whose intricate work interweaves pop iconography with historical references to artists such as Hieronymus Bosch. His biggest influence, however, is his father, who was an illustrator in the 1960s and 70s, working for Oz and Track Records in the UK.

Damian Abraham was born in the east end of Toronto, Ontario and attended the University of Toronto. Fucked Up formed in 2002 and has since released 42 singles and two albums and received the Polaris Music Prize for the year’s best new album in 2009. They are currently represented by Matador Records. Abraham has appeared regularly on the Fox News program Red Eye with Greg Gutfeld since 2009, playing the voice of liberal dissent.

Fucked Up will perform at the Viaduct Theater (3111 N. Western) immediately following the opening of X420X. The concert begins at 9:30PM on February 13.

March 2010

Jesse Butcher & Corkey Sinks